Page 6-Saturday, June 5, 1982-The Michigan Daily
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The Michigan Daily
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The Michigan Daily
Vol. XCI, No. 23-S
Ninety-two Years of Editorial Freedom
Edited and managed by student
at the University of Michigan
Cooperation
or stagnation
MID THE SPLENDOR of the fabulous Palace
of Versailles, the heads of the seven major
industrialized nations are meeting to discuss
the respective fates of their countries and the
need for greater cooperation between them.
It is an old story of presidents and prime
ministers huddling together under the strains of
diverging interests. But few concrete results
ever come out of these meetings except that a
president often rises in the opinion polls as he
basks in the light of the media and foreign
crowds.
Perhaps this econohlic summit will be dif-
ferent, however. At no time in recent history
have these seven nations had more reason to
work together. The economic malaise that has
lingered over Western nations and touched
down periodically in the last ten years has
again wound down many once-strong industrial
sectors.
The ties between the nations are the kind that
bind. All the nations depend heavily upon trade
with one another, and all depend heavily upon a
strong American economy for their own
economic livelihood. Nearly 1.7 trillion
American dollars are held in Europe and
provide most of the continent's credit. In ad-
dition, the United States provides over 30 per-
cent of the industrial world's output.
Clearly with economies so intertwined, there
can not be individual solutions to the current
economic downturn. The biggest obstacles to
recovery are wildly fluctuating currencies and
high U.S. interest rates. President Reagan
wants the market forces to prevail in monetary
policy but that has put Euro-currencies, ex-
pecially the French franc, under severe strain.
And Congressional feet-dragging on the
American budget has kept interest rates high,
hindering recovery in other nations just as it
has in the United States.
President Reagan can hang tough on his
ideology and not help the French and British
stabilize their currencies, or he can bend in
return for concessions in the form of trade
restrictions with the Russians.
If the leaders at Versailles opt for
cooperation rather than division, the result will
be a stronger economies and alliances. But
because of interdependence among the nations,
whatever the leaders decide, their fates will
remain intertwined - everyone sinks or swims
together.
Strikes, Playgirl
come to the 'U'
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UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
staffers and patients, eager
for a change in scenery from
their current building, may have
to wait a little longer than plan-
ned to move into their new home.
Striking ironworkers and
operating engineers have given
the University Replacement
Hospital Project a case of the
slows. Only 15 workers are at the
site, bringing construction of the
$285 million project to a virtual
halt.
There has been no picketing at
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the site and contract talks bet-
ween Associated General Con-
tractors of Detroit and two trade
unions are expected to begin
again next week.
Hospital planner Marsha
Bremer said she wasn't sure
when the issues could be resolved
between the disputing parties,
who will be working with federal
mediators, or how much the
strike will cost the project in
terms of time and money. The
hospital is scheduled for com-
pletion in 1985.
'U' exposure
W HEN SUMMER'S heat hits
campus, Ann Arbor
residents shed much of their
outerwear. Now, Playgirl is
planning to give male University
students an excuse to expose
even more of their bodies.
The magazine, which features
male cheesecake in the most
revealing way, is coming to cam-
a result of a strike.
pus June 7 insearch of models for
a "Playgirl Comes' to the Big
Ten" spread.
In the interview for prospective
centerfold stars, hopefuls will be
asked why they want to appear in
the magazine, how they feel
about posing nude, and how sin-
cere they are. Playgirl already
has trekked to Ohio State Univer-
sity seeking "healthy guys," ac-
cording to talent coordinator
Linda Horwitz.
The magazine expects to be
flooded with candidates, Horwitz
predicted, and as Wes Querns, a
student from OSU said, "It
doesn't take much of an excuse
otar lot of people to take off their
clothes."
Frats and dolls
THE MEMBERS of Theta Chi
say they had no idea that
"Willie" would cause them - and
others - so much trouble.'
This week, the Lansing NAACP
joined other groups in demanding
the expulsion of Theta Chi from
campus- because "Willie," a
small bulging-eyed black doll,
appeared in a fraternity
photograph in the MSU student
newspaper.
The NAACP and other civil
rights groups have attacked the
photograph as racist and said its
publication showed insensitivity
toward racial minorities. The
groups also called for the
resignation of the General
Manager of the campus
newspaper and of the MSU Greek
advisor.
But spokespersons from both
the campus newspaper and the
university said the photo was
published through an oversight,
and that they intended no racial
slur. The president of the frater-
nity issued an apology and said
his fraternity brothers are now
attempting to "gain a better un-
derstanding of the black com-
munity."
At week's end, the board which
is to decide what action if any will
be taken against the fraternity
had made no announcements, but
several campus groups said they
were organizing anti-Theta Chi
demonstrations.
The Week in Review was
compiled by Julie Hinds, Kent
Redding, and Charles Thomson.
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